journal articles
ASSOCIATION OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS WITH FRAILTY IN OLDER ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY USING NHANES
Yuanyuan Wu, Hongyan Peng, Rui Xu, Yingxue Hua, Yanan Zhang
BACKGROUND: Frailty significantly impacts healthy aging, yet lifestyle interventions may reduce its prevalence. This study investigated the association between a comprehensive lifestyle score, comprising eight modifiable factors (diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, body mass index [BMI], non-HDL cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure), and frailty risk in older adults, identifying key components for targeted interventions.
METHODS: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2005–2018), we analyzed 10,065 adults aged ≥60 years (mean age: 69.61, 54.97 % female). Each lifestyle factor was scored from 0 to 100, and frailty was defined using a 49-item index (>0.21). Weighted logistic regression assessed individual associations, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis explored dose-response relationships, and quantile g-computation evaluated joint effects.
RESULTS: Higher scores for dietary score (OR=0.69, 95 % CI: 0.52–0.90, score 100 vs. 0), non-smoking (OR=0.62, 95 % CI: 0.51–0.75), sleep (OR=0.29, 95 % CI: 0.17–0.49), blood glucose (OR=0.27, 95 % CI: 0.17–0.44), and blood pressure (OR=0.43, 95 % CI: 0.30–0.61, score 25 vs. 0) were associated with lower frailty risk (all P < .05). Diet and non-HDL cholesterol showed no linear association; smoking, BMI, blood glucose, and blood pressure exhibited non-linear patterns (P<.05). A simultaneous one-level increase in all lifestyle factors reduced frailty risk by 94 % (95 % CI: 92–95 %), with physical activity, blood glucose, and sleep as primary contributors.
CONCLUSION: These findings highlighted the association between specific lifestyle factors and reduced frailty risk, underscoring the need for prospective studies to prioritize interventions for frailty prevention.
CITATION:
Yuanyuan Wu ; Hongyan Peng ; Rui Xu ; Yingxue Hua ; Yanan Zhang (2025): Association of lifestyle modifications with frailty in older adults: A cross-sectional study using NHANES. The Journal of Frailty and Aging (JFA). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjfa.2025.100061